Telephone booth



Feb. 5, 1952 P H SHERRQN 2,584,626

TELEPHONE BOOTH Filed April 8. 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet l www HTTORll/E Feb. 5, 1952 p H, SHERRON 2,584,626

TELEPHONE BOOTH Filed April 8. 1949 3 SheeS-Shet 2 DERCNAL HSM Rngom HTTORNL- 5 Feb. 5, 1952 P, H, SHERRON 2,584,626

TELEPHONE BOOTH 234 gf/6g 75 'a 234 240 g3g 235 "160 235 240 15B 156 240 835 INVENTOR.

334 PERCBVAL HB Hmmm 335 ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. `5, 1952 UNITED STATES vPATENT OFFICE 'f TELEPHONE BOOTH Percival H. Sheri-on, Jamaica, N. Y. Application April-s, 1949, seriaiNo. 86,149

2 Claims. (Cl. 2li-3.5)

' l rlhis invention relates to an improved telephone booth structure, More particularly, it relates to a `telephone booth structure which is especially adapted to be fabricated largely. from molded synthetic resins.

An object of this invention is to provide a telephone booth having structural elements which can be fabricated easily and rapidly and which can be readily assembled to form a strong structure.

An additional object of this invention is to provide a telephone booth having the majority of its elements adapted to Abeing fabricated from synthetic resins.

A further objectof. thisinventionis tofprovide a telephone booth comprising elements which may be largely assembled by. interlocking.

An additional 'objectY of this invention. is to provide a telephone booth having a small number of additional parts @without any sacrifice or structural strength. A- still further object of this invention. is to provide a telephone booth. structure which may be readily sound-proofed.

A still further object ofV this invention is to Figure is an elevation of the 'panel of Figure 9; Figure 11 is a plan view'of the rear panel ,of

the telephone boothstructure of Figure 1;y 'v

Figure 12 is a front elevation of the' rear'panel;

Figure 13 is a plan View of the right' side panel of the telephone booth of Figure l;

Figure 14 is an elevation of the vstructure shown in Figure 13;

Figure 15 is a top perspective view of the front left hand corner of the telephone booth structure of Figure 1 before the ceiling is secured in place and showing the manner in which the lintel is secured;

Figure 16 yis Aa top perspective view of the ceiling structure of the telephone booth of Figure 1;

Figure 17 is a vertical section taken on .the plane indicated bythe line ll-l'l in Figure 16;

Figure 18 is a front perspective view of the base of the telephone booth of Figure 1 Without flooring;

provide a telephone booth. which may be` readily manufactured in large quantities and which may be rapidly assembled by relatively unskilled labor.

.s These and Vother objects of this invention will become apparent on a reading ofv the description in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

Figure l is a front perspectiveview of a telephone boothin accordance with this invention;

Figure 2 is a horizontal section taken on the plane indicated by the line 2,--2 in Figure. l;

Figure 3. is a vertical section on the plane indicated by the line 31-3 in Figure 1;

Figure. 4 is an enlarged View of the corner ofthe telephone booth enclosed byY the broken line circle in Fig-ure 2;

Figure 5 is an enlarged view of the corner of the telephone booth. enclosedV by the broken line circle 5 inFi'gure 2;

. Figure .6 is an enlarged view of .the portion of the telephone booth structure enclosed by. the broken line circle 6. in` Figure 3;`

Figure 7 is an enlarged view of a portion of the telephone booth enclosed by broken line circle 'E in Figure 3;

Figure 8 is a. front perspective view of the lett rear corner. of the telephone booth structure of Figure 1 before it is. assembled;

Figure-9 isa plan. view of the left side panel of the telephone booth Voi- Figure lf;

Figure 19 is an elevationof the door structure of Figure 1 as observed from the inside of the telephone booth;

Figure 20 is a section taken on the planes indicated by the line 2li-2li in Figure 19 showing the doors secured together; f

Figure 21 is a vertical section taken lon the plane indicated by the line 2I--2l in Figure 19;

Figure 22 is a vertical section-taken on the plane indicated by the line 22-22 in Figure 19;

Figure 23 is a horizontalsection through door panels like those of Figure 19 illustrating the use of a modiiied hinge;

Figure 24 is an elevation of a modied door structure as observed from the inside of the telephone booth;

Figure 25 is a section taken on the planes indicated by the line 25-25 in Figure 24 showing the door panels secured together;

Figure 26 is ahorizontal section through the left hand rear corner of a modified telephone booth structure;

Figure 27 is a front perspective view of the panel connecting 'joint shown in Figure 26;

Figure 28 is a perspective view of a `corner member of a Figure 29 is a section taken on the plane indicated by the line 29-29 in Figure 28;

Figure 30 is a horizontal sectional view showing an alternative method oi securing the interior panels; -V

Figure 31 is an elevation of the alternative modiiied telephone booth structure;

3 method of securing the interior panel of Figure 30; and

Figure 32 is a horizontal sectional view of a Ytelephone booth utilizing the modified tongue and -groove structure for securing the panel members to the corner members.

With reference to both the drawings and the description, the left and right hand are applied as the telephone booth is observed from the front.

A telephone booth 2 has a left side member 3, a rear member 8 and a right side member 9. These members may be formed by conventional molding techniques from any suitable synthetic resin, such as, for example, a thermoplastic resin such as polystyrene, a vinyl resin such as polyvinyl acetate and an acrylic resin such as methyl methacrylate. Thermosetting resins may equally Well be used. Thus, for example, the phenolic resins, such as, for example, phenolformaldehyde or the ureaformaldehyde type resins may be used. Similarly polyester type resins and numerous of the other wellknown synthetic type resins may be utilized.

VAs shown clearly in `Figures 9 and 10, left side member 3, comprises heavy corner portions l and I2 which-are connected by a thinner sheet I4 which is reinforcedby vertical rib members |6 extending between horizontal reinforcing member I8 and base 20.

Corner portion |2 has a tongue 22, a vertical slot 24` and a vertical slot 26. Corner I0 has a vertical slot 28 and a vertical slot 30. Base 20 has a vertical slot 3| which lies in the same plane as slots 26 and 28.

` As shown in Figures l1 and 12, rear member B has heavy vertical end members 32 and 34 connected by panel 36. Panel 36 has reinforcing ribs 38 extending between horizontal reinforcing member 40 and base 42. End members 32 and 34 have vertical slots 44 and 46, respectively.

Base 42 has a vertical slot 41.

As shown in Figures 13 and 14, right side member` 9 has heavy corner portions 48 and 50 which are connected by a panel 52. Panel 52 has reinforcing rib members 54 which run between horizontal reinforcing member` 56 and base 53. Corner portion 48 has a tongue 60, a vertical slot 62 and a vertical slot 64. Corner portion 50 has a vertical slot 66 and avertical slot 68. Base 58 has a vertical slot 61 which lies in the same plane as slots I64 and 66.

It will be apparent that the above mentioned members may be readily molded from synthetic resins by the use of techniques well known to the art. The design provides lightness of structure together With the requisite strength and ease of assembly.

When desired, a decorative sheathing 65 (Figure 4) may be added to the exterior of the corner portions. The sheathing is adapted to fit into vertical slot 69 in the exterior of the corner portions.

"As shown in Figures 3 and 18, the telephone booth has a foundation 1I) which may be formed out of sheet metal or, if desired, molded using a synthetic resin. The foundation has a vertical portion'12, an upper 'flange 14 and a lower flange 16. `Lower flange 16 'is adapted to support a floor 18. Flange 14 has Va plurality of bolt holes 80. These bolt holes are arranged in pairs at eachv corner.

`The side members 3, 8 and 9 are secured to foundation by bolting (Figures 3 and 6). The side members have molded in their foundations threaded inserts 84 which are adapted to register with bolt holes 80. As shown more particularly in Figure 6, a bolt 86 is passed through bolt hole in foundation 10, hole 88 in side member 3 and threaded into insert 84.

fn assembling the telephone booth structure, members 3 and 9 may be bolted to foundation member` 10 in the manner described above. Rear member 8 may then be secured in position by engaging tongues 22 and 60-of left side member 3 and right side member 9, respectively, with the rear member slots 44 and 46, respectively. Rear member 8 can then be moved until it rests on flange 14 of foundation 10.

The next step is to position interior panel members 92, 94 and 96. Panel 92 is adapted to slide into slots 26, 28 and 3l and faces against reinforcing member I8. Panel 94 is adapted to t into slots 24, 62 and 41 and rests against reinforcing member 48. Panel 96 is adapted to lt into slots 64, 66 and 61and rests against reinforcing member 56;

The space between interior panel members 92, 94 and 96 and panels I4, 36 and 52, respectively, may be filled with a suitable vibration absorbing material 99 prior to theassembly of the interior panels. l l

As shown in Figure 15, a lintel has on either side a vertical tongue |02. Tongues |02 may be engaged with slots 30 and 68, respectively, and the lintel is then moved downwardly until its top is flush with the tops of corners |0 and 50, respectively. The lintel may have a cut-out portion |04 with a transparent sheet |06 secured behind it and carrying opaque lettering |08.

A ceiling unit II2 (Figures 3 and 16) has a right side Wall |I4, a` rear wall |I6, a left side wall II8. and a front wall |20. Front wall |20 has an opening |22 which,when assembled, registers with opening I 04 in lintel |00. Ceiling unit ||2 has a horizontal flange |24 which has a plurality of boltholes |26. The bolt holes |26 are arranged in pairs at each corner and 1ocated so as to registerwith threaded inserts |28 which are molded in reinforcing members I8, 40 and 56 (see Figure 8) .Y As shown more clearly in Figures 3 and 7, bolts |30 are passed through openings |26 and threaded to inserts |28 to secure the ceiling unit |I2 in place.

A sheet |34 rests on flange |36 in the base of the ceiling unit. The sheet is held in position by right angle clamps |38 which are secured by bolts |40. The bolts |40 are threaded to inserts |42 which are molded into recesses |44 (see Figure 7). Walls I|4 and II 8 have a plurality of ventilation louvres |46 to insure adequate ventilation of the interior of the ceiling unit |I2 which is adapted to'contain a source of illumination to illuminatethe transparent sheet |06.

As shown in Figures 3 `and 7, a roof |50 has a vertical flange |52 which engages walls I4, I I6, ||8 and |22 of the ceiling unit.

Referring now to Figures 19 through 22, a door l|54 has molded plastic panels |56 and |58 which are hinged together by a pin passing through hinges |51 and |59, respectively, which are molded in the panels. Each panel has a groove |60 which carries a rubber gasket |62. The gasket |62 has a slot |64 which holds a glass panel |66.

Panel |56 is hinged to corner 50 of right hand panel 9. As shown in Figure 17, a follower |68 which fits in channel |10 in the base ,of ceiling unit I2 is secured to panel |58. -A handle |12 is secured to panel |58 by bolts |13 and threaded inserts |15 (Figure 22).

As shown in Figure 23 in lieu of molding the hinges joining panels and |58 intov the panels, it may be desirable to mold therein threaded inserts |73. The hinges |18 and |95 may then be secured to the panels by means of bolts |82.

As shown in Figures 24 and 25, an alternative door |84 may be formed from a pair of plastic panels and |88 which may be transparent. Thus, for example, the panels might be formed i'rom polystyrene or any other suitable transparent plastic. Panels |85 and |88 are secured together by hinges and |92 which are secured to the panels by rivets |94. Door stops are secured to panels |35 and |38 by rivets |95. Similarly, a handle 200 may be riveted to panel |88. Door |54 is mounted in the telephone booth in the identical manner used to mount door |54.

As shown in Figures 30 and 31, an alternative structure may be used to secure the interior panels. Here an interior panel 234 is secured to a rear panel 205 by means of a molding 25". and bolts 253 which are threaded into an insert 259 molded into rear panel 206.

As shovvn in Figures 26 through 2S, an alternative structure may be utilized to secure plastic panels to each other. I-ere a plastic corner member 2 l0 has .molded therein a T-shaped metal insert 2|2 Which has a iange 2| 4. Flange 2|4 is adapted to engage a slot 2|5 molded into rear panel 2|8. Similarly plastic corner member 2i@ has a metal insert 220 which has a flange 222 adapted to engage a slot 224 molded in side panel member 226. A bracket 228 for supporting telephone equipment may be secured to corner member 2|0 by means of a bolt 235 threaded to an insert 232 molded in the corner member (Figures 28 and 29).

Figure 32 shows a horizontal section of a telephone booth utilizing such an alternative structure to secure the panels to each other. Corner members 233 have molded therein metal inserts 234 having anges 235. The forward right hand corner member 233 may have molded therein threaded inserts 236 to which door hinges may be bolted. The sides of the telephone booth are formed by panel members 238 which have vertical slots 240 adapted to receive flanges 235. A lintel 242 is secured to the front of the telephone booth by engaging slots 244 with anges`-235 on the front corner members 233.

What I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A telephone booth structure which com- K prises a foundation; a pair of oppositely disposed vertical side members molded from a synthetic resin and each having heavy end portions which form the corners of the booth structure, a heavy base, a panel joining the end portions and lli . 0 the base, a horizontal reinforcing member be- 6 tween the end portions and near the top of the panel and a removable panel spaced from said :rst mentioned panel and secured in slots in said end portions and said base; a rear vertical member molded from a synthetic resin and having heavy end portions and a base joined by a panel, horizontal reinforcing member joining end portions near the top thereof, and a removable panel spaced from said first mentioned panel and secured in vertical slots in the side members and a slot in the base oi the rear member; the vertical rear and side members being connected by vertically extending tongues and grooves, a plurality of said Vertical members having threaded inserts molded into their bases, boltsV through the oundation threaded to said inserts; and a ceiling structure having tour walls.

a removable top, a removable bottom and a' fiange extending horizontally outwardly from the four walls, threaded inserts molded in the horizontal reinforcing members of a plurality of the vertical members, bolts through the flange of said ceiling structure and threaded to the inserts in the horizontal reinforcing members.

2. A telephone booth structure which comprises a foundation; a pair of oppositely disposed vertical side members molded from a synthetic resin and each having heavy end portions which form the corners of the booth structure, a heavy base, a panel joining the end portions and the base, a horizontal reinforcing member between the end portions and near the top of the panel and a removable panel spaced from said rst mentioned panel and secured in slots in said end portions and said base; a rear vertical member molded from a synthetic resin and having heavy end portions and a base joined by a panel, a horizontal reinforcing member joining the end portions near the top thereof, and a' removable panel spaced from said first mentioned panel and secured in vertical slots in the side members and a slot in the base of the rear member; the vertical rear and side members being connected by vertically extending tongues and grooves, a plurality of said vertical members having threaded inserts molded into their bases, bolts through the foundation threaded to said inserts; and a ceiling structure having an outwardly extending flange, threaded inserts molded in the horizontal reinforcing members of a plurality of the vertical members, bolts passing through the flange of said ceiling structure and threaded to the inserts in the horizontal reinforcing members.

PERCIVAL H. SHERRON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,176,980 Sherron Oct. 24. 1939 2,229,775 Sherron \Jan. 28, 1941 2,353,045 Kuntz July 4, 1944 

